2002 was in Johnston. However, in 2000 I shot this in Groton. For reasons unknown to me now, I tagged the pix as being of a Type XXI. Sure looks identical to the one in Carmel but with a different paint job. Both even have the little guy atop the sail. I do recall seeing that bit with the halogen light in Groton.

That was the year he used that same boat to tow himself around the pond.

It was also the year he broadsided Chris Proctor's I-19 with it.

I also seem to recall in 2000 or 2001 that Johan also had another boat that was similar, but had a wide diagonal yellow stripe on it. Can't find a picture of it though.

George "Crazy Ivan" Protchenko

“There are the assassins, the dealers in death; I am the Avenger!”-Nemo"I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request; means No!"-Capt.Barbossa

The first one he had Many ManyManyManyManyManyMany years ago at Groton was a Type XXVI. It was 1993 I think. Maybe that was the one CI is referring too with the yellow band. The Type XXVI is my favorite U-Boat. BD.

I spoke with Johann at the regatta. This year he had a Type XVIII. The last one he brought three years ago he told me was a Type XXI. The differences are, the XXI had a snorkel and he said was wider and just a little longer. He said the Type XVIII and XIX were very close to the XXI, but slightly smaller in some proportions. I didn't even know there were Type XVIIIs and XIXs. He also said the XVIII was designed to do 24 knots which was faster than the XXI would have been. His goal is to get this XVIII to actually do 24 knots. The man is a mad genius!